Simplified boat canopy



3 Sheets-Sheet l N m w N mm leopard/. F/v'eder p 3, 1963 P. FRIEDER SIMPLIFIED BOAT CANOPY Filed April 27, 1966 p 3, 1968 L. P. FRIEDER 3,399,687

S IMPLIF I ED BOAT CANOPY Filed April 27, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 jinwf M A 7' TOPNE Y5 p 1968 L. P. FRIEDER SIMPLIFIED BOAT CANOPY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 27. 1966 INVENTOR. Leonard P fifeaer ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,399,687 SIMPLIFIED BOAT CANOPY Leonard P. Frieder, Clarks Green, Pa., assignor to Gentex Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 545,600 22 Claims. (Cl. 135-6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In general my invention contemplates the provision of a simplified boat canopy having a boat-carried frame made up of transverse arches carrying a cover provided with catenaries adapted to be releasably secured to the arches. I provide arch-engaging ties on both sides of the top at each end thereof and I form openings in the cover to permit the catenary couplings to pass through the cover so that the cover is reversible. I provide readily releasable adjustable means for tensioning the cover on the frame.

Background of the invention My copending application Ser. No. 472,293, filed July 15, 1965, nOW Patent No. 3,354,892, discloses a boat canopy adapted to be secured to a lifeboat or the like to protect the occupants from the elements. The canopy shown in my copending application includes a frame on the boat, which frame has a number of arches for receiving the canopy cover. The cover itself is made up of a plurality of generally symmetrically arranged sections, each of which sections, in turn, is made from a number of panels of bias cut fabric. The cover carries a number of catenaries adapted to be detachably connected to the frame arches. Means such, for example, as turnbuckles are provided for tensioning the catenaries to draw the cover tight on the frame. I have found that the form of boat canopy shown in my copending application functions satisfactorily in all respects to achieve the desired results of protecting the occupants while being strong, light and relatively easily erected.

While the form of my boat canopy shown in my copending application functions in an entirely satisfactory manner, I have now discovered that I can make some simplifications in the structure without seriously detracting from the desirable results flowing from the use of my canopy. For example, the canopy cover can be made more simply without the use of four symmetrical sections, each of which comprises a plurality of bias cut panels. That is, while the latter structure is highly effective where extreme conditions might be encountered, in many applications such conditions will not be encountered and other advantages of my structure are retained even though a simpler cover construction is used.

My simplified construction has the further advantage over the arrangement shown in my copending application that it is reversible in that the cover can be assembled on the supporting frame with either side facing out. This would be of advantage where the surface characteristics such, for example, as the color of the two sides of the cover are different.

As has been pointed out hereinabove, the form of my boat canopy shown in my copending application includes means such, for example, as turnbuckles for tensioning the catenaries to draw the cover tight on the frame. My simplified construction includes readily adjustable means for tensioning the catenaries to draw the cover taut. It,

Patented Sept. 3, 1968 however, incorporates the additional feature of providing means adapted to be actuated quickly to relieve the tension in the catenary. Thus, my simplified canopy is more easily erected than is that shown in my copending application.

Description of the invention One object of my invention is to provide a simplified boat canopy which is inexpensive.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simplified boat canopy which is reversible.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simplified boat canopy having readily releasable means for adjusting the cover catenary tension.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one side of the cover of my simplified boat canopy.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the form of my simplified boat canopy shown in FIGURE 1 taken along the line 22 thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the cover shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the cover tie-down straps.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the form of my simplified boat canopy shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the side tie-down cords of the canopy.

FIGURE 5 is -a top plan of the supporting frame-work of my simplified boat canopy.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the readily releasable catenary tensioning means of my simplified boat canopy.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 4, one form of my simplified boat canopy indicated generally by the reference character 10 includes a center section indicated generally by the reference character 12 and fore and aft sections indicated, respectively, by the reference characters 14 and 16. In the particular form of cover shown in the drawings, the center section is generally rectangular in shape and may, for example, be made up of six pieces 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 of material out on the bias. Alternatively, where the use is such as will not subject the cover to high winds and seas, the cover may be made of a single piece of material cut to the shape shown in the drawings. It will readily be appreciated that this cover will be less expensive to produce. Preferably, however, I make the center section 12 from a plurality of pieces cut on the bias from a material such as that shown and described in my copending application referred to hereinabove.

Each of the fore and aft sections 14 and 16 is made of a plurality of panels 30, 32, 34 and 36 so that the section can be drawn from the frame, to be described, down toward the bow or the stern of the boat to which the canopy is to be applied. The pieces making up the center section 12 are joined for example by folding their adjacent edges and then disposing each of the edges within the fold of the other edge. When that has been done, the joint thus formed can be secured by any suitable means such, for example, as by stitching 38.

I provide the form of my cover shown in the drawings with three catenaries including an eave catenary 40, a ridge catenary 42 and a second eave catenary 44. I dispose each of the catenaries in tunnels formed by securing superposed lengths of reinforcing material 46 and tunnel forming strips 48 in superposed relationship to the center section by any suitable means such, for example, as by stitching 50. In this manner I form tunnels for each of the catenaries, leaving space for access to the center of each catenary for a reason which will become apparent from the following description.

One of the outstanding features of my simplified boat canopy is reversibility. I provide a slit 52 at the one end of each of the tunnels to permit the catenary to be passed through the cover from the side on which the tunnel is stitched to the other side thereof. A similar slit 54 at the other end of each tunnel permits the other end of the catenary to be passed through the top. Adjacent the center spaces of the tunnels are openings or slits 56 for permitting access to the center of the catenary for reversibility in a manner to be described.

I fold each of a plurality of lengths 58 of a material, such as webbing, to form loops 60 carrying a pair of cinch rings 62 and 64. The length 58 passes under the loop to provide a free end 66 thereof for securing the end of the cover section to an end arch frame to be described. Areas of stitching 68 secure the length 58 to the cover material. A short piece of line 70 attached to one of the cinch rings 64 permits the rings to be moved away from the top for access thereto. From the drawings t will readily be seen that I provide a plurality of lengths 58 and associated structure at spaced locations along each end of the center section 12 and on both sides thereof for reversibility.

The eave catenaries 40 and 44 divide the section 12 into a top 72 and side curtains 74 and 76. I form a fold 78 in each of the curtains 74 and 76 about halfway down the curtain. Stitching 80 secures a reinforcing strip 82 in the fold 78. I mount a plurality of grommets 84 in the reinforced fold at spaced locations therealong. The grommets 84 receive lengths of tie-down lines 86 adapted to be secured to fittings (not shown) of the boat to which the canopy is applied. I provide a plurality of auxiliary grommets 88 in each of the curtains 74 and 76 below the grommets 84. When the canopy is reversed, lines 86 are merely passed through the grommets 88 when the curtains are to be tied down.

On one side of the section 12 I secure a plurality of curtain straps 90 at spaced locations by means of stitching 92. The straps 90 are employed to tie the curtains up when desired. They need be provided at one side only of my canopy.

I provide the edges of the end sections 14 and 16 with securing straps 94 similar to straps 66 to permit the end sections to be secured to the end arch. Grommets 100 are adapted to receive lacings 102 passed over the bow and stern of the boat to draw the end sections 14 and 16 taut completely to enclose the interior thereof.

As has been pointed out in my copending application referred to hereinabove, the catenaries 40, 42 and 44 need not be continuous lengths of cable or the like but might, for example, be made up in part of lengths of webbing secured to the cover and having the attaching means to be described in turn secured to the lengths of webbing.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, the supporting frame for my simplified boat canopy may include a bow arch 104, an amidships arch 106 and a stern arch 108. These arches are supported on stanchions 110 by means of sleeve 112 pivotally, adjustably mounted on the stanchions. Since the arch supporting structure per se forms no part of my invention, it will not be described in detail. The copending application of Joseph Cianflone, Ser. No. 531,205, filed Mar. 2, 1966, shows the details of a suitable arrangement. As is pointed out therein, each of the arches 104, 106 and 108 is positioned in its mounting sleeves 112 in an adjustable manner so as to accommodate boats of different beams. By way of example, I have illustrated the canopy as being applied to a boat 114 of a size some- 4 what smaller than the maximum size which can be accommodated.

I provide my simplified boat canopy with a simple and expeditious arrangement for attaching the catenaries 40, 42 and 44 to the arches. Referring to FIGURE 6, I have shown the arrangement associated with one of the catenary cables such, for example, as the cable 40. In that arrangement the end of arch 104, which is formed of a suitable tubular metal material, is drilled with holes 116 and with recesses 118 in the edge thereof. One of the holes receives a flat hook 120 which expeditiously is formed of aluminum extruded to the shape of the hook and then cut to form the individual hooks. A splice 122 passes through an opening 124 in an adjust-able catenary tightening device handle 126 to a ring 128. Respective openings and 132 in handle 126 cooperate with the ring 128 adjustably to tension the catenary such, for example, as catenary 40. The free end 42 of catenary 40 passes through ring 128 through opening 130 and back through opening 132 and ring 128. If end 42 is pulled with the other end of catenary 40 secured, the catenary will be drawn taut and will be held under tension by the arrangement described. The tension in the catenary can readily be released by pulling handle 126 downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 6 to move openings 130 and 132 to positions at which their axes are parallel to the cable axis to release the tension. It is to be noted that this arrangement functions just as well with a canopy wherein part of the catenary is formed by webbing stitched directly to the cover. If that were done, a length of line similar to catenary 40 would be secured to the webbing.

In the particular arrangement I have shown in the drawings the connection between the eave catenaries 40 and 44 and the ends of the center arch 106 is achieved in an extremely simple manner merely by passing the cable through slots 134 formed in the wall of the arch at the ends thereof.

Each of the center catenary 42 and the other eave catenary 44 may be provided with the releasable tension adjusting arrangement described in connection with cable 40. The ends of the center catenary may be connected to the end arches 104 and 108 by passing hooks like the hook 120 through openings 136 drilled in the arch bodies. I may employ a fitting 138 for coupling the ridge catenary 42 to the center arch 106. Fitting 138 is described more fully in my copending application. It is a sleeve, slid into the arch and provided with oppositely directed slots at the upper surface thereof for slidably receiving the catenary. The end sections of my canopy are attached to the end arches by the straps 94 and then are drawn down over the bow and stern of the boat by the lines 102.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my simplified boat canopy, other modifications might be possible. For example, it is conceivable that a rigid structure might replace my ridge catenary. Moreover, it might be possible to tension the cover by securing the ends of the center section 12 to pivoted fore and aft arches and connecting adjustable cables between these arches and the bow and stern of the boat. I secure rain collectors 140 to the top 72. These collectors are so formed as to permit them to be drawn inside out for reversibility.

In operation of my simplified boat canopy the supporting frame normally is folded and stored at a suitable location in the boat and the cover 10 is folded and stowed. When the canopy is to be erected, the frame is raised in a manner more fully described in my copending application and in the copending Cianfione application. When that has been done the cover is placed over the frame and the ends of the center section are tied to the fore and aft arches by straps 66. Next the ends of the catenaries 40, 42 and 44 are hooked to the fore and aft arches and the catenaries are engaged with the center arch. Next, the free ends, such as the end 42 of catenary 40, are pulled to draw the catenaries taut. The end sections are then applied in a similar manner. If desired, the side curtains can be tied down by use of the ties 86. If desired, the curtains may be tied up by means of the ties 90. The cover may be applied with its other side out merely by drawing the catenaries through the slots 52, 54 and 56 and then proceeding in the manner outlined.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a simplified boat canopy which is inexpensive. The cover of my simplified boat canopy is reversible. I provide the canopy cover catenaries with readily releasable means for adjusting the catenary tension.

It'Will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the spegific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A canopy assembly for a boat including in combination, a supporting frame, a cover, means carried by said cover on one side thereof for detachably connecting said cover to said frame at a point intermediate the ends of said cover and means forming an opening in said cover adjacent said point to permit passage of said connecting means through said cover whereby the cover is reversible with respect to said frame.

2. A canopy assembly for a boat including in combination, a supporting frame comprising a bow canopy support and a stern canopy support, a cover, respective catenaries carried by said cover on one side thereof, fastening means on said catenaries for engaging said support and means forming openings in said cover to permit said fastening means to pass through said cover to engage said supports.

3. A canopy assembly as in claim 2 including first auxiliary means caried by said cover on one side thereof adapted to secure said cover to said supports and second auxiliary means carried by said cover on the other side thereof adapted to secure the cover to the supports.

4. A canopy assembly as in claim 2 including readily releasable means for adjusting the tension in said catenary.

5. A canopy assembly as in claim 2 in which said supporting frame comprises a member formed with an opening therein adjacent an end thereof and in which said engaging means comprises a hook adapted to be inserted in said opening.

6. A canopy as in claim 2 in which said frame comprises an intermediate support having a slot in the end thereof for receiving said catenary.

7. A canopy assembly as in claim 2 including a side curtain on said cover, means forming a flange in said curtain at one side thereof, tie lines carried by said flange at spaced locations therealong and means forming openings in said curtain to permit the passage of said tie lines therethrough.

8. A readily releasable tension adjusting device for securing a line between two supports including in combination, means for securing one end of said line to one of said supports to provide a free end of said line, a rigid member formed with spaced openings therein, said free end of said line passing through said spaced openings to form a loop around the portion of said member between said holes, a ring around the portions of said line between said one support and said loop and between said free end and said loop and means connecting said ring to said other support.

9. A device as in claim 8 in which said member is elongated in a direction generally parallel to a line passing between said supports and wherein said free end passes first through the member opening remote from said one support and then through said opening adjacent said support in forming said loop.

10. A device as in claim 8 in which said rigid member is formed With a third opening and 'wherein said means for connecting said ring to said other support comprises a length of material extending through said third opening from the ring to the other support.

11. A readily releasable tension adjusting device for securing a line between spaced supports including means for holding a loop in said line, means for securing one portion of said line extending from said loop to one of said supports, the other portion of said line extending from said loop having a free end, a ring around said portions and means connecting said ring to the other support.

12. A device as in claim 11 in which said loop has legs, said. loop holding means constraining said legs to extend generally transversely of said line under the action of tension in said line and a handle on said loop holding means for moving said legs to positions generally parallel to said line to release said tension.

13. A canopy assembly for a boat including in combination, a frame supported on a boat, said frame comprising a support for-med with an opening therein adjacent one end thereof, a cover adapted to be applied to said frame and means comprising a hook in said opening for detachably securing said cover to said frame.

14. A canopy assembly as in claim 13 in which said frame comprises a second support spaced from the first support, said second support formed with an opening therein adjacent an end thereof, said securing means comprising a catenary carrying said hook adjacent one end thereof, a second hook connected to said catenary adjacent the other end thereof, said second hook in said second support opening.

15. A canopy assembly as in claim 14 in which said frame includes an intermediate support having a slot in an end thereof for receiving said catenary.

16. A canopy assembly as in claim 14 including readily releasable means for adjustably tensionin-g said catenary.

17. A canopy assembly for a boat including in combination, a supporting frame comprising a bow arch, a stern arch and an intermediate arch at spaced locations on said boat, a cover adapted to be applied to said frame, a catenary carried by said cover on one surface thereof, each of said bow and stern arches being formed with an opening therein adjacent an end thereof, a hook on one end of said catenary engaged in the opening of one of said bow and stern arches, the other end of said catenary being a free end, means for holding a loop in said catenary intermediate its ends, a ring around the portions of said catenary between said loop and said catenary ends, a hook connected to said ring and engaged in the opening of the other of said bow and stern arches, said intermediate arch formed with a slot in an end thereof for receiving said catenary, said cover being provided with openings therein adjacent said arch ends.

18. A canopy assembly as in claim 17 wherein said loop holding means comprises a rigid element being formed with spaced first and second and third openings therein, said catenary passing through the first and second element openings to form said loop and means passing through the third element opening connecting said ring and said second hook.

19. In a canopy assembly for a boat, a cover having a top comprising a plurality of strips of material, means for securing said strips to each other along seams making an acute angle with the longitudinal centerline of the cover, said seams having a length greater than the beam width of said boat, said strips extending across said centerline.

20. In an assembly as in claim 19, a plurality of flexible supporting members and means for securing said members to said cover disposed generally parallel to said centerline.

21. In an assembly as in claim 19, generally triangular bow and stern cover sections, and means for securing said bow and stem sections to said top.

22. In a canopy assembly for a boat, a cover having a top comprising woven fabric made up of a set of weft yarns and a set of warp yarns, the yarns of one of said sets making an acute angle with the longitudinal centerline of said cover and means for supporting said cover on said boat with said centerline generally parallel to the length of said boat, said one set comprising yarns having lengths greater than the beam width of said boat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hopper Q. 135-6 Von Tell 135-6 Frieder 135-1 Bass 135-6 Wright 135-6 REINALDO Pt MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

